"Are you going already?" she asked walking back to their table, a clean smelling baby in her arms.
"Yeah, well, Alexis' lesson will be over in 15, so I better get over there," he answered, closing the screen of his laptop, grabbing it and shoving it away in his bag.
Already.
She didn't sit, couldn't sit. She repositioned the boy on her hip, balancing herself from one foot to the other. "Oh, okay," she said, trying to mask her disappointment.
Still going with casual, she asked, "See you around, then?" though she couldn't quite hide the hope that emanated from the question.
Was this stalking him going to become a thing? She hoped not.
He stood up and positioned the bag's strap over his shoulder, "Yeah, I hope I see you around," he said. He put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him and hugged her, Nikki squished between them. Because he'd felt like it, and he didn't feel the need to analyse his every move anymore. Wasn't afraid she'd turn around and leave and that he'd never see her again.
Despite the initial shock that shook her core, Kate's free hand instinctively snaked its way to his back and rested there, content. She closed eyes, trying not to get overwhelmed by the situation, but oddly enough, she wasn't. She felt at ease there, in his arms.
A lot too soon for both their liking, Rick kissed the top of Nikki's head as he pulled away. "I promised your dad a couple of beers, maybe you should come," he told her.
Already she missed the contact of his body close to hers, bringing her free hand to her shoulder where his hand had rested. She rubbed her neck, only then to realise he was waiting for her to answer. Yeah, he had talked about beer, or something like that. She wanted to, but maybe alcohol wasn't the best idea, she didn't want to go back there; she couldn't take the chance. "Yeah… maybe you could join me and Nikki in the park one afternoon."
He seemed content with her answer, and if he'd been surprised or disappointed, he didn't let it show, "You have my number?"
"No, but I'll just ask my dad." Because her dad had Richard Castle's phone number and she didn't.
"Ok, call me!" he exclaimed, as he hurried to the door giving her once last look. Rick got to the door, his hand on the door handle, and just when he was about to push it open he paused. Should he?
"Kate?"
"Yeah. I'll call you, Castle. Go in peace," she shot back to him with a smile and a wink.
He turned around and walked back to the table, "Do you want to come?"
"Where?"
"I don't know, we'll probably just grab something to eat."
"You mean now? With your daughter?"
"Yeah, well nothing too extravagant, she has school in the morning. She'll ground me if she isn't in bed by 8."
Kate chuckled at the statement, looking at Nikki, then back at Rick.
Oh. And what the hell?
She had thought it best to wait for them outside the building, but she hated waiting; she wasn't any good at it. She had one hand on the stroller, the other tightly grasping at her collar, keeping her jacket shut. She rocked the stroller, along with her body, back and forth as she hummed 'An Other Time, Another Place'. Nicolas really did love the song, but she hummed mostly to cover the silence that was creeping over. She didn't want the time to think, the time to second guess herself.
The melody was getting jumbled about in her head when the glass doors finally opened. An agglomeration of kids and parents hurried out, each talking louder than next. She soon spotted the writer and his daughter caught in an intense conversation.
"Oh! Oh! And daddy, you were right she says my posture's improved a lot," beamed the girl out excitedly.
"That's very nice, pumpkin."
"And Ms. Joan also said that if I practice the Spicatto for next time, she'd give ME the solo."
"I'm very proud of you Alexis. Once you set your mind on something, there's no stopping you. I'm sure you'll be perfecting the Spicatto in no time," he added as he brought his arm around the girl and pulled her closer towards him. The girl smiled as she buried her face in her father's side.
They walked towards her and soon enough, they were standing in front of her. Kate wiped her sweaty palms on her pants as she stepped in front of the stroller, smiling nervously.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Hey?" said Alexis looking at Kate, then tilting her head up towards her father.
"Alexis, do you remember my friend, Jim? You know, the one that brought you the Cowboys and Indians Legos?"
"Yeah!" she nodded enthusiastically as her eyes widened in joy, at the mention of the toys.
"Well this is Kate, Jim's daughter. I invited her to come eat with us today."
"Cool," she said. Detaching herself from her father, she took a step towards Kate, extending her small hand, "It's nice to meet you Kate. I'm Alexis, this is my daddy." The girl chuckled nervously, "But I bet you knew that already."
Kate got down to the girl's level, smiling as she took the 10 year olds hand, gently shaking it, "It's very nice to meet you too, Alexis."
Alexis smiled shyly, brushing her cheek over her shoulder.
Nikki squirmed behind them, unhappy about all the attention he wasn't getting. Suddenly, Alexis' eyes popped open and the image of the shy little girl was gone. She bounced towards the stroller as she beamed out, "You have a baby!"
"I do. This is Nikki."
"Nikki?"
"Nicolas, but I call him Nikki. You can call him whatever like."
"My dad calls me pumpkin," stated the child, "It's because of my hair," she added, feeling the need to explain.
Alexis approached the stroller, one hand on the hood, her face peaking in to Nikki's great amusement, "He's so tiny!"
Alexis took Nikki's pacifier that had fallen out and placed it back in his mouth, "I always wanted one of those! A lot of my friends have them."
Kate smiled, then widened her eyes at the statement. Her 10 year old friends had… wait. What? She looked over at Castle, the confusion visible on her face.
He smirked, before answering, "She means a baby brother or sister. She begged for one for years. Even asked Santa once."
She nodded letting out a little chuckle.
Nikki shrieked, making Rick and Kate turn around towards the sound. They were faced with the picture of Alexis playing an intense game of peek-a-boo with the boy, squealing in joy. They watched the moment of pure bliss between their kids for a couple of minutes, smiling as they naturally gravitated towards each other.
Their shoulders touched and Rick snapped out of his trans, "How about we get move on this Alexis? If we ever want to eat."
"Unhuh."
"Lex?"
"What?" asked the girl, only one eye was visible, her hands hiding her porcelain skinned face.
"Food. Us. Go."
The girl jumped to Kate's side, clasping her hands together in prayer, "Can I push the stroller? Please. Please. Pretty, pretty please?"
Kate smiled down at the girl. "Sure, if it gets too heavy, you let me know, alright?"
They had walked about a block, stopped at the red light of an intersection, when Alexis turned around towards her father and Kate, who were trailing closely behind her.
"Do you want me to take over?" asked Kate.
Alexis shook her head in response; with her index she motioned her dad to come closer. She whispered, but loudly enough that Kate heard, a question that had seemingly been preoccupying her, "So if Jim is your friend, and Kate is his daughter, does that mean Kate is my friend."
Rick just stared at his daughter in disbelief.
Kate chuckled, "I can be both your friends. But I like you more," she stated as she winked at Alexis.
The girl content with that answer, went on pushing the stroller. Kate turned to Rick, "Where are we going?"
"I'm still digesting."
"Oh, come on. Who wouldn't? Little Castle's all kinds of cute."
"Yeah you're right," he chuckled.
"So, where you taking us?"
"I don't know."
"You what?"
"Hey Lex, where are we going?" he called out.
"Home," stated the child.
"Wait. Home? You don't want to stop for something to eat?" he questioned.
Alexis stopped and turned towards her father. As the stroller stopped moving, Nikki threw one of his toys out and Kate ran forward to retrieve it.
"Can we have some take-out delivered? I really want Nikki and Kate to see my room, and my Legos, and my Finding Nemo backpack," answered the girl.
"I think Nikki's a bit too young to play with Legos, pumpkin, but you ask Kate."
Kate jogged back to them, putting away the toy in the basket at the bottom of the stroller, when Alexis asked, "Kate, my dad wants to know if Nikki can play with the Legos."
Kate laughed, giving Castle a confused look as she got back up.
"I meant about the take-out, Lex," he whispered.
"Oh. Kate?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you like take-out? Because I think sitting in a restaurant is long and boring. So we could eat at our apartment. I could show you my toys. Is that okay?"
"Sure."
"Dad, she said sure!" she exclaimed
"I heard, Lex," he laughed.
"Let's go home then."
I know I promised a long Chapter, and I failed, but I needed to cut it because I don't like posting 5000 word chapters. For that, I am sorry. Also, had a tough week. I was dealing with stuff, and when I woke up from my ice cream/ romantic comedy coma, I realised part 2 of this chapter was… depressing and angry. And it had more to do with me than the story, so I'm going to change it.
Posted part 1 because I liked it, hope you do too.
PS. If anyone can explain (or volunteer) how to get someone to Beta-Read, I'd be eternally grateful. Because I don't think I'm going at this right.